Ten Year Impact of Soil Test Crop Response Based Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply on Nutrient Use Efficiency and Productivity for Sustainability of Pearl Millet-wheat Cropping System

The long-term impact of soil test crop response integrated plant nutrient supply (STCR-IPNS) is considered crucial for increasing nutrient use efficiency and productivity of pearl millet-wheat cropping system (PWCS) for sustainability. The standard methodology was used to determine the long-term effect of fertilizers and manures with respect to control on soil nutrient status and their efficiency was worked out under PWCS. Soils showed higher electrical conductivity and lower pH and bulk density compared to its initial value after 10 years of experimentation. Continuous application of manures and fertilizers (STCR-IPNS) resulted an increase of 78 and 42% of soil organic carbon (SOC) compared to control at 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil, respectively. However, SOC decreased by 32 and 15% in control over initial value (2009), respectively at both depths. The substantial increase in available and total macronutrient (N, P and K) concentration of the soil was found after 10th PWCS cycle following continuous manuring and fertilization compared to its initial value (2009) at both depths. The highest agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity, and partial nutrient balance of nitrogen (45.25, 50.51 and 1.30 kgkg−1, respectively) and phosphorous (100.7, 135.1 and 0.66 kgkg−1, respectively) were recorded for integrated treatment. However, the higher utilization efficiency of N and P (43.6 and 209.4 kgkg−1, respectively) was observed for treatments where fertilizers only were applied on soil test basis. Continuous (10 years) practicing PWCS result an increase in crop yields through STCR-IPNS approach. Following STCR-IPNS approach continuous for 10-years increased the soil nutrient status and NUE, ultimately ensuring sustainable PWCS.